Failed to keep accurate records of weekly hours worked by nonexempt employees.

Resolution: Cumulus Inc. paid $83,617 in back wages and liquidated damages to 324 workers, and ThunderCloud Inc. paid $44,250 in back wages and liquidated damages to 229 employees.

Quote: “Employers like ThunderCloud Subs have a responsibility to know and follow the law,” said Betty Campbell, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in the Southwest. “The restaurant industry employs some of the most vulnerable workers we see, who are often afraid to complain when their employers do not pay them the wages they have earned. The U.S. Department of Labor will continue to vigorously enforce the law, and educate employers and employees to ensure proper wages are paid. Companies who violate the law must not gain a competitive advantage over employers that play by the rules.”

Information: For more information about federal wage laws, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or its Austin District Office at 512- 236-2560. Information is also available at http://www.dol.gov/whd.